French toast casserole recipe is a delicious overnight breakfast casserole. This recipe is simple enough for busy mornings but so delicious that you will want to serve it to guests.
Baking French toast casserole recipe
We just made this delicious overnight french toast casserole recipe the other day for “brinner” (breakfast for dinner) and I almost forgot how good it was. The entire family loved it!
Now I recommend letting it sit overnight, but I just didn’t plan that ahead. You can easily make this recipe without it sitting overnight – just decrease the milk by 50%.
It still tastes great but probably not as delicious as letting it sit overnight. Your family will love this! Either way, you can still have delicious french toast casserole.
The Best Overnight French Toast:
Have you ever made overnight French Toast? My family has always been a big fan of french toast. So making this overnight french toast is the perfect breakfast meal. You prepare the french toast the night before and place in the refrigerator and bake the next morning.
This is the perfect to make for Christmas Morning. You can have it baking in the oven while you enjoying watching your family open gifts. It is always on the menu for breakfast on Christmas morning at my house.
Invite some friends over for brunch and make this overnight french toast. It pairs perfectly with many sides and your friends will think you spent so much time in the kitchen.
What goes with French toast casserole?
There are many food items that go great with this overnight french toast. Here are some of our favorites:
- Bacon
- Sausage
- Eggs
- You might also like to add some fruit. We love this easy Tropical Fruit Salad.
Add your favorite toppings:
We love to add different toppings to this french toast bake.
- Our homemade pancake syrup on top and then sprinkle powdered sugar is a family favorite.
- Dried Cranberries
- Sliced Almonds
- Cinnamon and Sugar
- Butter
- Slice Apples
- Blueberries
- Pecans
The options are endless as to what to add.
French toast casserole ingredients:
- Loaf of bread (about 10 slices plus one heel) cut into bread cubes -You could use old stale bread. You could also use different types of bread for different flavors.
- Eggs
- Milk
- Sugar (divided in half)
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
How to make french toast casserole:
- First preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Spray bottom of pan with cooking spray or coat with melted butter.
- Cut bread into chunks and spread evenly in a 9×13 pan.
- Next, mix together eggs, milk, sugar, salt, and vanilla.
- Pour egg mixture over bread. Mix bread with egg mixture to coat. I find that it works best if I mix with my hands. This ensures that all the bread is coated.
- In a small separate bowl mix together 2 Tablespoons of sugar and 1 Tablespoon of cinnamon.
- Sprinkle this mixture over the entire baking dish until it is gone.
- If wanting to eat now, cover and place in refrigerate overnight. We love it much better when it sits overnight, but you could cook it immediately.
- The next morning bake the casserole in 350 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes until golden brown.
Can you freeze this Overnight French Toast?
Yes, you can. Freezing this french toast bake is easy to do. Make sure to cover with foil and freeze.
When you are ready to bake, thaw overnight in fridge. Cook in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
Tips for the best Overnight French Toast:
- If you are afraid it may dry out, place a few tabs of butter on top when you bake it. When serving I have drizzled with maple syrup right before serving, or I have sprinkled with with powdered sugar. Either way is fabulous.
- Mix in some brown sugar and cinnamon for a different flavor.
- You can also use some heavy cream in place of milk or do half and half.
Everyone will be well fed and your budget will be better as well. Give some of these tips a try!
French Toast Casserole variation ideas:
- Try using other types of bread. Some ideas include: raisin bread, french bread, Italian bread, texas toast, sour dough bread and more.
- Add raisins and nuts to the french toast mixture.
- Drizzle caramel.
- Vanilla Buttercream Frosting is amazing on this french toast casserole.
- French toast bake with texas toast is my favorite bread to use.
- You can also add in some ham and cheese or sausage or bacon for a savory french toast bake.
Why is my French toast casserole soggy?
You want the casserole to be moist on the inside but have a drier crispier top. If you find that the inside of the french toast casserole is too soggy, try reducing the amount of milk or using a thicker more heartier style of bread.
Another idea is to try soaking the bread is a separate bowl.
Money saving tip for french toast casserole for a crowd.
Check your local grocery store for “reduced for quick sale” bread. It is usually 50% or 75% off which means you can save a lot of money.
Any kind of bread is perfect for this recipe. Just make sure you have enough to cover the bottom of a pan.
I’ve used sour dough bread before and it was amazing.
Time saving tip- FREEZE IT!
This recipe freezes wonderfully. In fact, you can go ahead and make 2 at the same time -one to eat now and one to eat later without much more effort. Just allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge and bake like normal.
This recipe is perfect in a 9×13 casserole dish. The ones with the lid are really handy if you are taking this dish somewhere. I use the disposable pans for the one I put in the freezer. It doesn’t take any more work and you have a great meal for later.
That also helps with clean up on those busy nights. This dish is also perfect to take to potluck dinners or to someone recovering from surgery or with a new baby. It’s nice to just be able to toss the dish. The best part is they don’t have to worry about trying to get it back to you.
Breakfast for dinner!
This overnight french toast is great a morning breakfast but we love it just as much for dinner. At least once a week we have breakfast for dinner. Here are some other breakfast recipes to try for dinner.
Print this Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe below:
French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/2 loaf of bread (about 10 slices plus one heel cut into chunks -You could use old stale bread. You could also use different types of bread for different flavors.)
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 4 Tablespoons Sugar (divided in half)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Spray bottom of pan with cooking spray or coat with melted butter. Cut bread into chunks and spread evenly in a 9×13 pan.
- Mix together eggs, milk, 2 Tablespoons of sugar, salt, and vanilla. Pour over bread. Mix to coat (feel free to get your hand dirty). 😉
- In a small separate bowl mix together 2 Tablespoons of sugar and 1 Tablespoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture over the entire pan until it is gone.
If wanting to eat now:
- Cover and place in fridge over night. (you could cook immediately, but it is much better if you let it sit over night) The next morning cook in 350 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes until golden brown.
If wanting to freeze:
- Cover with foil and freeze. When you are ready, thaw overnight in fridge. Cook in 350 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes until golden brown.
Optional ideas:
- If you are afraid it may dry out, place a few tabs of butter on top when you bake it. When serving I have drizzled with syrup right before serving, or I have sprinkled with with powdered sugar. Either way is fabulous!
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Try these other french toast recipes:
- Easy Baked French Toast Muffins Recipe
- Pumpkin French Toast Recipe
- Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole Recipe
- Kid Friendly Stuffed French Toast Recipe
The ingredients state 1 TEAspoon of cinnamon but the recipe states 1 TABLEspoon. Which amount should be used in this recipe?
In the instructions it says 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and above in the ingredients it says 1 teaspoon… i was just assembling with the instructions so we will be blasted with cinnamon in the morning
I want to make this! Could you clarify the amount of cinnamon in this recipe. The ingredients list says 1 tsp. But the directions say 1 T. Thanks.
I make this during the holidays using sweet Hawaiian bread & egg nog. It’s delish!
Is the cinnamon and sugar topping 1 tablespoon or 1 tewaspoon each? The directions contradict.Making it tonight! Mary
Just picked up some dinner rolls on grocery yesterday for a .25 a pack! Think I’ll try this with them
Oh wow! That’s a great deal! I hope you enjoy this recipe with them!
I’ve made this recipe several times and I use 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Good Morning! Merry Christmas! We just finished the casserole and just wow!
I kinda tweaked a little. I used 1cup heavy cream (had to use it up). Then when it came out of the oven I dolloped honey butter over the top and then crumbled bacon.
Loved it
My kids love French toast and they loved this. I love how easy it is to make and with 3 children running around it is great. Makes a quick breakfast for all those busy mornings.
Hi, could I make this in my enameled dutch oven.
Yes, I think that would work great.
one of the best ways make a family have brunch delicious together.